Comments From Trump Suggest He Might Push Blame Away From Himself Entirely As The Hegseth Scandal Grows More Complicated And Publicly Damaging

President Donald Trump’s efforts to mitigate the escalating political turmoil surrounding Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth only intensified the situation, leaving viewers questioning his stance amid a series of conflicting remarks. During a press conference on Air Force One, Trump was persistently questioned about allegations that Hegseth ordered the termination of everyone aboard a suspected drug-smuggling vessel on September 2, including two individuals seen on drone footage.Trump's immediate reaction was to distance himself from the incident while firmly supporting Hegseth's denial. "I don’t know anything about it," he asserted, emphasizing his trust in Hegseth. When further pressed about a possible second missile strike, he shifted responsibility back to Hegseth, who he believed denied its occurrence.However, Trump's remark about not approving a second strike raised eyebrows. Critics interpreted this as a precautionary move to shield himself while potentially setting Hegseth up to bear the consequences. Amid escalating scrutiny, Hegseth labeled the allegations as “fabricated.” Meanwhile, former military officials warned that any deliberate attacks on incapacitated survivors could be categorized as war crimes, prompting investigations from Congress.